Fender guide



Oct. 21, 1941. A. A; JOHNSON FENDER GUIDE Filed NOV. 19, 1937 24|NVENT0R Patented 20ct. 2l, 1941 FENDER come Arthur A. Johnson,Bridgeport, Conn., assgnor to Casco Products Corporation, Bridgeport,Conn., a corporation of ConnecticutA f Application November 19, 1937,Serial No. 175,381

(Cl. 24o- 8.1)

13 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved fender -guide adapted to bemounted on the fenders of automobiles.

In automobiles of the present design, the fenders are formed withdierent curvatures and extend over the wheels with their edges variousheights from the ground level. In order to'provide a guide which can bemounted on the beads or edges of these fenders and still properlyindicate the edge of the fender, it has been proposed to make the guideadjustable to different heights. It is especially desirable to have thefender guide illuminated so that it can be seen at night very readily bythe operator of the automobile. Diflculty, however, has been encounteredin making an illuminated fender guide which can be extended to thedesired height due to the fact that it is hard to handle the amount ofwire necessary to permit extension of the illuminated guide to thedesired height.

The fender guide of the present invention, however, provides anilluminated target on the fender guide staff and an extensible elementmounted thereon to be positioned above the target to the desired height.In this manner, the problem of handling the wires forming the circuitfor the lamp in the target is avoided. The target, which is usuallytranslucent, may be provided with a transparent section which will throwa beam of light upon the extended rod so that it can be readily seen atnight.

The fender guide staff and extensible rod may be made of conductivematerial and insulated from the fender. When so constructed it iscapable of performing another function in addition to the indication ofa position on the edge of a fender as it is capable of use as an antennawhen connected to the radio in an automobile.

In one form of the invention, an extensible rod is mounted to slidewithin a hollow guide staff and is adapted to be projected from thetarget into extended relation above the same. Means is carried by thetarget for locking the rod in extended position.

In another form of the invention, the extensible rod comprises the usualfender guide mounted s as to be insulated from the fender as in theprior construction, and then an additional rod is mounted on the staffby means of brackets so as to extend upwardly therefrom above thetarget.

The rods in both forms of the invention are substantially in alignmentwith the staff of the guide and form a continuation thereof to enablethe operator of an automobile, irrespective of the position of the beadon the fender, to have a suflcient indication of the position on theedge of the fender when parking and driving in congested traic.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thespecification taken in connection with the drawing, in which:

Figure l is a view of the fender guide in unextended relation, a portionof the clamp being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the fender guide in extended position.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the and the mounting means for therod.

Fig. 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section taken along l ies 5-5 of target Fig. 4. I

Fig. 6 is a section taken along line 6--6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 shows another form of the invention in extended position.

Fig. 8 shows a view of this form of the invention in unextendedrelation.

Fig. 9 shows the device in extended position with the light thrown onthe extended stall.

, According to the present invention, a 4hollow guide stai I0, formed ofsuitable conducting material, is secured in a metal bushing II threadedinto an insulator I2. The insulator may be strengthened and the looks ofthe same improved by providing a metal shell I3 extending over the outersurface thereof as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The insulator is providedwith an internal circular rib I4 which will reinforce the insulator andalso provide an abutment against which a contact I5 is clamped by theend of the metal bushing. The contact will, therefore, be in electricalconnection with the hollow guide staff and is adapted to have connectedthereto the lead-in wire I6 for the purpose to be later described.

A metal piece Il is threaded into the bottom of the insulator and clampsa contact I8 against the annular rib. The metal piece is provided with aball-like extension I9 which is adapted to rest on the end of thefender-engaging clamp 20 and be locked thereto by nut 2l. The innersurfaces of the nut and the end of the clamp form a socket for receivingthe ball-like member, whereby the guide can be universally adjusted withrespect to the clamp.

The clamp is provided with a clamping plate 22 l which is adapted toengage the bead of the fender and be drawn into tight engagementtherewith by a draft means 23 carried by the clamp.

- further described.

'Ihe clamp has a wire-receiving channel 24 formed therein whereby thewires, leading from welding or by a shrunk t. The sleeve projects oupwardly from the staff and is provided, at its upper end, with externalthreads 3l.

The bearing plate is formed with a central bearing opening 33 and a pairof wire-receiving holes 34 to be A nut 35 is threaded on the sleeve andserves as a lock nut and bearingfor the target in a manner to bedescribed. y

The target in this form of the invention coinprises a lower section 31and an upper section 38 made of translucent material such as Tenite, orthe like, and is provided with a sealing band 39, which also adds to theornamentation of the fender guide,

The lower section of the target is provided with a central sleeve 40adapted to be slipped over the sleeve 29. Surrounding .the centralsleeve is a contact ring 4| having a projecting part 42 upon which ismounted a pair of spring clips 43. Ihe spring clipshave threads rolledtherein and are positioned to form a socket for receiving a lamp 44 forilluminating the target. The spring clips engage the shell of the lampso as to form one contact for the lamp. A second contact ring 45 ispositioned on the central sleeve in spaced relation to the:first-mentioned contact ring and electrically insulated therefrom. Thisring is provided with a projecting element 46 which is extended intoengagement with the othercontact of the lamp to complete the circuittherefor.

A pair of wires 41 and 48 are adapted to supply the operating circuitfor the lamp. The pair of wires are disposed within the hollow stai andpass through the wire-receiving openings 34 in the bearingplate 28 whichholds them in relatively xed position. The wires are then lead throughan opening 49 in the central tube and are secured to the rings 4I and45, respectively, by soldering or otherwise. 'z

The upper section of the target is formed with a depending centralsleeve which has internal threads 52, adapted to be threaded on thethreads 3l of the sleeve 29 to lock the upper end of the target thereto.The upper section has a split bushing 53 positioned to be in alignmentwith the bearing opening 33 in' the bearing plate. The bushing istapered and is threaded in a tapered hole in the' upper section for apurpose to be described.

Anauxiliary rod or extension 56 is mounted to slide in the bushing andthe bearing opening 33 in the bearing plate- A resilient bushing 51 isinterposed between the rod and the'split bushing 53 in order to providea watertight joint between the two. The rod may be extended above thetarget to any desired position, and the split bushing thenl threadedinto the upper section. The tapered hole will 'cause the split end ofthe bushing to move into clamping relation with the rod and securelyhold the rod in adjusted position.

In order to prevent the rod from being entirely withdrawn from thedevice, a stop 58 is mounted on the reduced end portion 60 of the rodwhich is thenl headed-over to lock it securely thereto. This stop, whichis shaped in the manner shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, serves anadditional function in that it provides a bearing surface within thehollow stai for the end of the rod, so that the latter will besubstantially rigid and will not vibrate or rattle when in unextendedposition.

As shown in Fig. 6, the stop is cut out at 59 so that it will notinterfere with the wires in the hollow stai when the rod is moved tounextended position.

Positioned at the upper end of the sleeve 29 is a collar 6|. The collarmay be secured to the sleeve by welding or forced t, and is providedwith a pair of spring elements 62, which form an additional support forthe rod to prevent it from yunintentionally vibrating in the staif andtarget.

The elements also form an electrical connection between the hollow staffand the rod in the event that the guide is used as an antenna.

In assembling the device, the staff is mounted in the clamping elementand the wire 48 is secured to the contact I8 which is in connection withthe metal piece Il which is in electrical connection with the fenderthrough the clamp so as to provide a ground for the circuit.4 If thedevice is to serve the purpose of an antenna for the radio, the lead-inwire I6 is secured to the contact l5. After this has been assembled,

the extension rod 56 is passed through the bearing plate andthe bearingplate is positioned on the end of the stail and the sleeve is positionedthereover and secured to the staff to hold the bearing plate in place.The locking nut 35 is then threaded onto the sleeve to its lowestposition. The wires are threaded through the openings in the bearingplate. The -lower section of the target, with the lamp in place thereon,is then slipped over the sleeve and the connection made between thecontact rings and the wires. The beading or band 39 is then put in placeon the lower section and the upper section is then threaded on thesleeve into tight engagement therewith. The lower section is then lifteduntil the beading 39 seats on the upper section and the nut 35 isscrewed up into tight engagement with the lower section to hold the twosections in assembled relation. The nut, therefore, serves both as abearing for the lower section and a locking means for holding the targetin assembled relation.

When the rod 56 is to be adjusted, the split bushing 53 is unscrewed andthe rod is manually moved to the desired position. The split bushing isthen tightened, and, because ofits construction, will grip the rod andhold it in place.

While in this form ofthe invention a split bushv ing has been used as alocking means, it is to be understood that any form of locking means canbe used to hold the rod in extended relation. In the form of theinvention shown in Figs.'

7 and 8, the extension rod can be in the form of an addition orauxiliaryrod which is adapted vto be mounted on existing fender guides.If

In Flg.\'7 is shown a fender guide of the usual construction having anilluminated target thereon comprising a lower section 31 and an uppersection 3B'. form of the invention, is adapted to be mounted in a pairof brackets secured to -the staff so as to project therefrom as shown inFig. '1. The upper bracket 65 is of the sp1 type and the parts areclamped togetheikb a screw 66. The bracket has an opening therein toform a bearing for slidably supporting the rod. The lower bracket 61 isformed as a split clamp secured together by a screw 68, but is adaptedto have the lower end of the rod 56' secured thereto.

VThe brackets 65 and 61 are of electrical-conducting material so thatthe guide may be used as an antenna if desired.

While the brackets have been shown in this form of the invention asbeing removable brackets or split clamps, it is to be understood thatthe upper bracket 65 can be made integral with the staf! and providing afixed bearing for slidably receiving the extensible staff while thelower bracket 61 is fixed to the rod and adjustably secured to thestaff.

In both forms of the invention, the upper section of the target can beprovided with a transparent section l which will throw the beam of lightupon the extended rod to enable the operator of the automobile toclearly see the part of the rod above the target when the device is usedin the dark.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of thisinvention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In an extensible fender guide, a guide staff of conducting material;means for insulatedly clamping one end of the guide staff to a fenderedge so as to extend vertically upward therefrom; a target fixed to theother end of the staff; means within the target for the illuminationthereof; an auxiliary rod of conducting material; and means for slidablyconnecting said rod to the stall. whereby the rod may be extended abovethe target, and for retaining the rod in a selected extended position,said means forming an electrical connection between said stati and rodin all positions of extension of the rod, whereby the stal and rod canbe also used as anantenna for a radio receiving set and saidtarget-illuminating means also illuminating said auxiliary rod when thelatter is in extended position.

2. In an extensible fender guide, a hollow guide staff having afender-engaging clamp at one end; a target fixed at the other end; meanswithin the target for the illumination thereof; an auxiliary rod mountedto slide in the hollow staff and project through the target forextension above the same; and means carried by the target for lockingthe rod in a selected adjusted position, said illuminating means alsoilluminating said auxiliary rod when the latter is in extended position.

3. In an extensible fender guide, a hollow stall having afender-engaging clamp at one end; a target at the other end and anauxiliary guide rod; means within the target for the illuminationthereof; means for slidably mounting the auxiliary guide rod in thehollow stair including a bearing plate mounted adjacent the target inthe upper end of the staff; means secured to the end of the rod andadapted to engage the bearing plate upon the rod being fully extended toprevent the rod from being withdrawn from the staff; and

` for engaging the walls of the hollow staf! for sup- An extensible rOd55', in this j porting the end of the rod in the stall, saidtargetilluminating means also illuminating said auxiliary rod when thelatter is in extended position.

.4. In an extensible fender guide also serving as a radio antenna, ahollow guide staff of conducting material having a fender-engaging clampat one end, said clamp securing said stair to a fender so as to extendvertically upward and so as to be electrically insulated therefrom; atarget at the other end of the staff; means within the target for theillumination thereof an auxiliary rod slidably mounted in the staff toproject *above the target; and contact means positioned in the targetfor completing an electrical circuit between the hollow staff and therod in all positions of extension of the rod, said target-illuminatingmeans also illuminating said auxiliary rod when the latter is inextended position.

5. In an extensible fender guide, a hollow4 guide staff having afender-engaging clamp at one end, said hollow staif being mounted on theclamp so as to be electrically insulated therefrom; a target at theother end of the staff; means for illuminating the target; an auxiliaryrod slidably mounted in the stall to project above the target; a pair ofspring contacts secured to the hollow guide staff and positioned in thetarget for completing an electrical circuit between the hollow staff andthe rod in all positions of extension of the rod; and a contact on thestaff adapted to receive a lead-in wire from a radio whereby the staffand rod can be also used as an antenna, said targetilluminating meansalso illuminating the auxiliary rod when the latter is in extendedposition.

6. In an extensible fender guide, a guide staff having a fender-engagingclamp at one end; an illuminated target secured to the other end of thestaff; means within the target for the illumination thereof; and anauxiliary rod slidably mounted on the staif for extension above thetarget, said target being provided with a light-transmitting portionadapted to throw a beam of light on the auxiliary rod to illuminate thesame when in extended position.

'1 In an extensible fender guide, a hollow guide stall of conductingmaterial having a fenderengaging clamp at one end, said hollow staffbeing mounted in insulation on the clamp so as to be electricallyinsulated therefrom; a target atthe other end of the staff; an auxiliaryrod slidably mounted in the staif to project above the target; contactmeans positioned in the target for completing an electrical circuitbetween the hollow staff and the rod in all positions of extension ofthe rod; and a contact mounted in the insulation in the clamp inelectrical contact with the hollow guide staff whereby the staff and rodcan be also used as an antenna.

8. In an extensible fender guide, a hollow guide stai having afender-engaging clamp at one end; a bearing plate positioned at theother end and held in place by a sleeve having an internal shoulder andprovided with external threads; a target provided with a centralaperture having threads therein to be threaded on the sleeve, saidtarget having a bearing means positioned therein in alignment with thebearing in the bearing plate; an auxiliary rod mounted for slidingmovement'I in the bearing plate to be extended above the target; andmeans for locking the rod in extended position.

9. In an extensible fender guide, a hollow guide staff having afender-engaging clamp at one end; y

a bearing plate positioned at the other end oi' the stai! and held inplace by a sleeve having -an internal shoulder and provided withexternal threads; a locking nut adapted to be threaded on the sleeve; atarget comprising two separable lmembers of translucent material, oneslidably e rod of conducting material secured to the latter thereof andinsulated therefrom; a bearing plate positioned-at the other end of thestaff and held in place by a sleeve havingv an internal shoulder andprovided with external threads; a target adapted to be threaded on thesleeve and provided with a\split bushing positioned therein in alignmentwith the bearing in the plate; an auxiliary rod mounted for slidingmovement in the bearing plate and split bushing to be extended above thetarget and locked in place by the split bushing; and resilient meanssecured to the sleeve and contacting the auxiliary rod to form anadditional bearing surface for the rod and an electrical connectionbetween the rod and the stai.

l1. In an extensible fender guide adapted for use as a radio antenna, aguide staff of conducting material having a fender-engaging clamp at oneend, said clamp including means for insulating said guide stall.' from afender to which it is secured; a target at the other end of the staiI;means within the target for the illumination thereof, a bracket securedto the staff and provided with a bearing at its opposite end; a secondbracket adjustably mounted on the staff; and a bracket and adapted toslide through the bearing in the ilrst-named bracket whereby the rod canbe extended above the target and locked in adjusted position, saidbrackets forming an electrical connection between the rod and the stair,and said target-illuminating means also illuminating the rod when thelatter is in extended position.

l2. In an extensiblefender guide adapted for use as a radio antenna, aguide staff of conducting material having a fender-engaging clamp at oneend, said clamp including means for insulating said guide stail from afender to which it is secured; a target at the other end of the staff;means within the target for the illumination thereof; an auxiliary rodof conducting material; and brackets mounted on the stai for connectingthe rod thereto and supporting it in a plurality of adjusted positionsso that it extends above the target; and also forms an electricalconnection between the rod and the stall', said targetilluminating meansalso illuminating the rod when the latter is in extended position.

13. In an extensible fender guide adapted for use as a' radio antenna, aguide staf! of conducting material having a fender-engaging clamp at oneend, said clamp including means for insulating said guide staff from afender; a target at the other end of the staff; means within the targetfor the illumination thereof; an auxiliary rod of conducting material;brackets mounted on the stai for connecting the rod thereto andsupporting it in a plurality of Aadjusted positions so that it extendsabove the target and also forming any v electrical connection betweenthe rod and the stati; and a contact on the sta adapted to be connectedto a lead-in wire from a radio so that the stai and rod can form anantenna therefor,

said target-illuminating means also illuminating said rod when thelatter is in extended position.

ARTHUR A. JOHNSON.

